Not in minority, we have the numbers, asserts government (Lead)

New Delhi, Sep 21 (IANS) The government asserted Friday it was not in a minority following withdrawal of support by the Trinamool Congress and it will carry forward the economic reforms after talking to its allies.

Law Minister Salman Khurshid, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal and Minister of State for Prime Minister’s Office V. Narayansamy exuded confidence of the government having the necessary numbers in the Lok Sabha despite the Trinamool with its 19 MPs withdrawing support.

“We have the numbers,” Bansal told NDTV news channel while Khurshid denied that the UPA government would be reduced to a minority after losing the support of its second biggest ally.

“We are not a minority government.. a minority government has to be proved to be a minority government and the arithmetic points to us not being in a minority because of support of other parties,” Khurshid told NDTV.

“The support of other parties is there, unless they say they are not on board.”

Narayansamy also said the government was not in minority and will talk to its allies to carry forward reforms.

“Ours in not a minority government, apart from our own allies (the government) is supported by the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP). Therefore, our numbers are going beyond 304. Therefore, nobody can say our government is a minority government,” Narayansamy told NDTV.

Narayanasamy said that some political parties inside take part in decision making in a coalition government and other parties support from it from outside.

“This is the system we have in a democratic country.”

He said Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav had said they will extend support to the government.

Narayansamy also said Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee was consulted by Commerce Minister Anand Sharma on FDI in multi-brand retail. “He explained in detail what are the advantages - the (returns) farmers will be getting, employment generation will be there, investment will come to ou” country,” said

He also recalled that there was opposition by Sangh parviar organisations to establishment of McDonalds and KFC in India and there was a lot of agitations, but there were many McDonald and KFC outlets in various parts of country now and boys and girls had found employment there.

“In India, we are now looking for more investments, more employement and developemnt. Any government will look for it,” he said.

He said the government will engage all its allies and supporting parties at the time of taking decisions on various crucial iss”es.

“Now the government has to see which are the reforms which we can implement without much trouble…much difficulty. Keeping that in mind we are moving forward. We will talk to our allies and carry forward out reforms.”